And the Hallmark store, of all places, has a decent collection of new books, including locally themed ones (like, say, Tim Wakefield's autobiography).

It also has a snowboard store and a skateboard store. Throw in the Trading Post and you've the makings of a funky shopping district - if only it weren't all stretched out along the Driving Test from Hell known as Centre Street, instead of being clustered around a square like most Boston neighborhood shopping districts.

Pazzo Books is great,

By Kathode on Wed, 06/15/2011 - 10:02am.

with a nice selection. I still don't seem to get there much. I'm more of a regular library visitor and borrower. Sorry to hear about Village Books closing -- it's a small shop and often wouldn't have what I was looking for. They were more than willing to order books, but sometimes I needed things quickly.

What are these books you talk

By anon on Wed, 06/15/2011 - 8:31am.

What are these books you talk of?

Hmmm...Books

By anon on Thu, 06/16/2011 - 11:26pm.

Books?....hmmm, not sure...yes, I will get my computer to look up "books"

JP also lost a bookstore last fall

By Ron Newman on Wed, 06/15/2011 - 9:11am.

Jamaicaway Books to close -- this was published last October. Different place from Rhythm & Muse further up Centre Street, which has now become Tres Gatos restaurant & bookstore.

Only one closing?

By anon on Wed, 06/15/2011 - 9:31am.

Only one bookstore is closing? Isn't it a good thing that it's not more?

Or did you mean, Roslindale's only bookstore is closing?

Yes, Roslindale's only bookstore is closing

By adamg on Wed, 06/15/2011 - 10:36am.

Just like I wrote. :-)

A few years ago, the Square had 2 1/2 bookstores. The one with very limited hours, run almost more as a hobby closed, Pazzo moved to West Roxbury.

Whose Books?

By anon on Wed, 06/15/2011 - 9:55am.

I demand that Whole Foods pay restitution to Roslindale Village Main Streets to atone for this tragedy.

Whither bookstores?

By John-W on Wed, 06/15/2011 - 10:26am.

It's well trod ground at this point, but obviously stores that specialize in selling new books (excepting text books) are becoming non-viable entities. For those that seem to be making it (at this point) the pattern is to combine merchandise and offer some other service/experience. The new Tres Gatos in JP (which I've yet to visit) has got books, music and a tapas bar. Newbury Comics has set the standard for rolling with changing conditions and has sort of become a KayBee Toy store for Goths and teens with too much of their parents money (or adults who never grew up -- what adult buys a Boba Fett bobble head?? - says the guy with a Sleestak bobble head).

Harvard Book Store has more literary events -- readings and talks and intellectual stuff far removed from bobbleheads. No doubt we'll have bookstores with live floor shows, lap dances and disney-ride-tie-ins before long. Hey, whatever it takes.

I went in there primarily to

By cscott on Wed, 06/15/2011 - 11:08am.

I went in there primarily to pick up presents for my children's classmates. Somebody needs to pick up on that an open a toy store with a decent book section. Roslindale is full of middle class families who like to walk up to the village to do their errands.

Even a new paperback is crazy

By other anon on Wed, 06/15/2011 - 12:56pm.

Even a new paperback is crazy expensive these days. A manager at Barnes & Noble told me that paperbacks aren't worth the paper they're printed on, which doesn't make me feel great about dropping $15 on one. I will and do spend money on new books to support indie bookshops, but otherwise I pretty much buy used unless it's a gift.

It appears as if Roslindale

By NotWhitey on Wed, 06/15/2011 - 2:17pm.

It appears as if Roslindale has exactly as many bookstores as Roslindale wants.

Pretty narrow view of group

By huh on Wed, 06/15/2011 - 5:17pm.

Pretty narrow view of group preferences there guy.

Roslindale's only bookstore closing

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